Locals aim to bring 'beloved community' to Shasta County

The Beloved Community “Dream Team” displays words that represent a vision for a local beloved community project.

A group of locals is looking to bring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "beloved community" to life in Shasta County.

They'd also like some help.

"We want people to come and say, ‘Here's what we think we could do but for something we could do, here's how we make it happen,'" said Ellen Pfeiffer, a volunteer for the Shasta County Interfaith Forum and member of the working group for the local beloved community project.

King's oft-repeated concept for a beloved community is "a realistic, achievable goal that could be attained by a critical mass of people committed to and trained in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence," according to The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Racism, discrimination, poverty, hunger and homelessness aren't tolerated and international conflicts are resolved peacefully, according to The King Center.

"We kind of feel it's something that everybody would like to see happen. It's a big deal, actually," said Eddie McAllister, a community organizer and member of Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect.

The local effort began in August with the 50th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech. That event featured a community panel in which participants were asked for their vision of a beloved community.

That information was presented and further refined last month at Redding's observance of the Global March for Peace and Unity.

"It was very useful, we've got some new focus on that," said Jan Lopez, a member of the Shasta County Multicultural Board.

That feedback included processes for building a vision, thoughts on a community action statement and more. Much of the feedback involved reaching out to others and listening.

"It isn't being fit yet to any kind of particular mold or pattern," Lopez said. "We're not sure how this is ultimately going to look but we're allowing the people to help decide that, to form, to shape it."

McAllister said the working group has settled on nine words representing the concept: respect for all, love, interrelatedness, inclusivity, shared power, nonviolence, responsibility, compassion and justice.

"These are the words that have been given to us," he said.

Pfeiffer said she'd eventually like to see the local beloved community reflect King's vision, though a good step would be for many to look past differences to their commonalities.

"We don't have to drill down into the problem, but we have to work on the solution," she said.

Much of the work, Pfeiffer said, will also be shining light on local organizations already working to address issues.

"I think a lot of good stuff is happening out there but people just don't know about it," she said. "How can we start to get some communities talking to each other?"

McAllister said the plan is still in its "infant state" but the group has already put together an action statement.

"A beloved community: an inclusive, solution-oriented, grassroots movement dedicated to networking and unifying relationships in our diverse community in which everyone will be accepted, respected and empowered. Living the dream in Shasta County. We hope you will join us," McAllister said, quoting the statement.

The group is also looking to present ideas for a local beloved community in conjunction with the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. The group is helping promote that event, McAllister said.

Anyone is welcome at the meetings, which are held the Redding Library on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and the first and third Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

"We want people to bring their ideas in and help feel like it's something comfortable," Lopez said.

Visit abelovedcommunity.blogspot.com or facebook.com/ABelovedCommunity for more information.